TankBud

Giant Colombian ramshorn

Marisa cornuarietis

FreshwaterSnail

Giant Colombian ramshorn (Marisa cornuarietis)
Elizabeth Barrett / animal.photos · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–81°F
23–27°C
pH
6.5–8.0
Adult size
2 in
5 cm
Minimum tank
5 gal
20 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Common
Family
Ampullariidae
Origin
Central America, South America

Overview

This is a peaceful, mostly solitary bottom grazer that spends its time working over surfaces for algae and decaying plant matter. Be warned: it readily eats live aquarium plants, so it suits an algae-control or low-plant tank rather than a planted display. Feed it algae wafers, blanched vegetables, and leftover food. Keep the water warm and on the harder side, and avoid copper-based treatments, which are toxic to snails.

In the wild

The giant Colombian ramshorn lives in warm, calm waters across Central and South America, from ponds and ditches to slow rivers full of plants. It crawls over surfaces grazing on algae and soft vegetation. A tank from about 20 liters works, with warm water in the mid 20s C and pH from 6.5 to 8. Harder water with some mineral content helps keep its shell solid, since soft acidic water can pit and erode it.

Good to know

Marisa cornuarietis is an apple snail in the family Ampullariidae, reaching about 5 cm across its flat, coiled shell. Unlike many pond snails it has separate sexes rather than being a hermaphrodite, so you need a male and a female to breed. It lays gelatinous egg masses under the water surface, not above it like some of its relatives. Breeding is moderate to manage given the right conditions.

Did you know

This snail has been used as a biological control agent against pest snails and weeds in some regions, because it eats vegetation and competing snails so eagerly. That same appetite is exactly why it has become an invasive problem where it escaped, and why you should never release one into local waters.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

Giant Colombian ramshorn is a peaceful, solitary species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a Giant Colombian ramshorn need?

A Giant Colombian ramshorn needs at least 5 gal (20 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Giant Colombian ramshorn need?

A Giant Colombian ramshorn is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 6.5–8.0.

How big does a Giant Colombian ramshorn get?

An adult Giant Colombian ramshorn reaches about 2 in (5 cm).

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